Gor Mahia snub FKF fixture, cite Govt directive on coronavirus

Kenyan Premier League giants Gor Mahia have opted to snub this afternoon’s FKF Shield fixture.

K’Ogalo were set to lock horns with Posta Rangers at the Afraha Stadium, but in a strongly worded letter to the federation and copied to Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed, his Health  counterpart Mutahi Kage and Principal Secretary for Interior Dr. Eng. Karanja Kibicho, Gor boss Ambrose Rachier said that they had taken the measure “relying on Government statement on coronavirus”.

“Regrettably, following  and relying on the Government statement on coronavirus released this morning(Friday, yesterday), we disbanded our team, released the players and cancelled our travelling arrangements to Nakuru.

We are not able to reassemble the team in good time. Further and with respect, our travelling to Nakuru will entail checking into a hotel and mingling with unknown persons against safety precaution. Besides, our attention has been drawn to the… statement from the Office of the President and Communication from CAF on the same subject…”

“In the circumstances, we request you to re-schedule our match against Posta Rangers.”

Sunday’s match between AFC Leopards and Ushuru also hangs in the balance. Ingwe boss Dan Shikanda told Citizen Digital he’ll issue a statement by 4pm Saturday. It is expected the  12-time champion will follow suit and snub the tie.

On Friday, the State banned all sports events, school games and church crusades after the country reported its first case of coronavirus, while the continental football governing body CAF also suspended all the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers that were scheduled for this month.

Gor becomes the second team after KCB FC to snub the Shield fixtures in the wake of coronavirus pandemic.